London 2012 gold medallists expected to have edge in battle for coxless pair
slot but rivals Polly Swann and Jess Eddie can make for selection dilemma at
trials

Heather Stanning and Helen Glover, who started Team GB’s gold rush at the London Olympics by winning the women’s rowing pair, will be reunited this weekend at the British trials, which take place at the Redgrave-Pinsent Rowing Lake at Caversham.

Six weeks after that success, the partnership was put on hold as Stanning returned to her Army career for a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Her place was taken by Polly Swann, who formed an equally unbeatable partnership with Glover during 2013.

Swann had missed out on her Olympic debut in the eight at London due to a back injury but fitted seamlessly into the pair last summer, even moving like Stanning while she rowed.

One of the trickiest boats to master, the coxless pair demands brilliance from both rowers, and the incredible luck of finding a new partner for Glover who could continue the success was not lost on Paul Thompson, the women’s and lightweights chief coach.

It also posed him a problem. When Stanning returned home last November, he had three oarswomen for two seats. Two stroke-women, each unbeaten for a whole year with Glover at bow, each physiologically and technically impressive.

True, Stanning had two world silver medals before 2012, and had won the Olympics. But despite training fitted in around her Army work at Basra, she was not ready.

“She was boot-fit but not boat-fit”, said Thompson. “She was not at her best – though on the water she still had a fantastic feel for the boat and rhythm.”

Swann, by comparison, had a whole year of water training under her belt. At the start of February, Thompson had been clear, the incumbent Swann had first claim on the place in the top boat.

“Helen and Polly are a world champion pair, that was our starting point,” he said. “We couldn’t have a plan until Heather was back and in front of us, and she needed to find her feet.”

He held winter meetings with all three, making it clear the big task was to make the pair fast enough to beat the world again – whoever was in it – and that Stanning would have to show him something special quickly to suggest a change.

So, this morning, Stanning and Glover will trial against Swann and Jess Eddie, a five-year incumbent of the women’s eight, with which she won world bronze in 2007 and 2011.

“It’s still completely open to see where this gets to,” said Thompson as he weighs up his options for the European Championships on May 28-June 1 in Belgrade. He will name his squad on May 14.

On paper it is clear he expects the Olympic champions to have the edge, but if Swann and Eddie can prove him wrong, it will make for a selection quandary.

Meanwhile, equally fiery racing will be seen between the lightweight women, where Thompson points to Charlotte Taylor, from Putney Town, impressing behind the likely leaders Imogen Walsh and Olympic champion Kat Copeland.